Sunday, 5 February 2012

Storytelling Sunday 2: The Words The Pictures

Happy Sunday, Storytellers! It's the first Sunday of the month, second chance of the year, to join our growing band of dedicated Storytellers.

I'm going short again this month (did I hear laughing at the back? That's height-ist!). One photo, a few sentences; but I think the story's all there. It can be a good writing exercise, trying to distil everything you want to say into the fewest possible number of words. But it can also be a great place to start - a photo you love and the first thought which pops into your head when you look at it. I'm trying it today:

Those Gates

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﻿My first year at university. St Valentines Day. I was passing thses gates when a local radio crew ambushed me.

"We're live on air," they said, "tell us how your Valentines Day is going.."

"Argh." I said, "No thanks."

..and I ran away. Which I still think is a shame. Because I'd love to hear now what I said then about a boy who was starting to mean the world to me....

That's my story. How about yours? Short or tall, we'll read them all. Write your Stytelling Sunday post, introducing it and ensuring you link back here so that your readers can join in too. Lots of words or a photo and a caption, or a combination of the two. The choice is yours. We love all sorts of stories all sorts of ways here. Bring them on!

The small print - which I'm not making small because I would like you to read it. I firmly believe we're telling stories in the round here. One person starts and then turns to the next. You can't do it in isolation. So I'm asking everyone who adds a link to be sure to say hello to at least a couple of the other storytellers. Now, let's read..

LOL! I was ambushed in New York Time's Square last summer. I can't remember what they asked but I said no thanks too. They were flabbergasted anyone would say no. I was in shock...well, I didn't know what channel it was, it could have been a porn channel for all I know.

You said exactly what I would have done :-)Got to take the youngest out for a walk in the snow but I'm looking forward to getting back, sitting down with a nice warm cuppa & reading through other peeps stories.

Good turn out this month Sian:) I have a photo and a few words too this month. It whirled around my head last night amongst Ofsted/snow thoughts so got up and typed it. Have a good day....very snowy here.

A perfect little Valentine tale for February. I was ambushed once at the Banksy exhibition in Bristol, but they wanted the whole family's perspective and my children would not play! I'll be back with my story and to read the rest, once the Sunday roast is done and dusted.

One of my favorite things to know about people is how they met their mate. I enjoy these stories whether they are romantic, poignant, or funny, and there's almost always a surprise or two in the telling.

It pays to be cautious. Imagine if you had said something about your hopes of that boy and he had heard them and been the one to run away... You obviously played it just right!I like your photo and few choice words. Must try it sometime. I am always too wordy.

Head's full of flu and I have linked my story up without using it's title. Can I change it? It should say Table for Two.

I love short short stories too, which is partly why I love Twitter so much. But even before that I loved Haiku and have books of 'Very Short Stories' and 'Mini Sagas' on my shelf still. I even once drafted out 2 stories for a 50 word story competition ... but never sent them in!

I enjoyed the glimpse into your past, like a single scene from a longer film. [And one with a happy ending a that!]

I'd have run away from "live radio" too! Anyway, in such cases, it's perhaps best to be cautious - after all, "Least said, soonest mended"! How lovely to see a photo of your university and have a little hint of your own love story... A great little tale for February, Sian! (by the way, Linky no. 35 won't work for me - it tells me the blog can't be found...)

I don't think it's number 35, I think it was number 31 which was a duplicate and has now been removed. I see the numbers have cleverly realigned themselves, so everything should be working perfectly again now

When my sisters and I were younger we used to try and get on late night love all the time - but we were like 11 and so had no real love stories and they always just listened bemused then didn't put us on air!

Just had to pop back over & say "Wow" - amazing participation this month. I've been around to at least 30 of the stories and truly enjoyed them all. Thanks so much for hosting this each month, Sian. Have a great week!

Perfect length to tell this story and I love that you edited the photo, definitely feels from a different time. I wrote my entry weeks ago and then got so wrapped up in responsibilities I haven't posted it then changed what I wanted to write about @@ Hopefully, I'll be linked up soon.

Have been catching up and reading the rest of the stories. They are GREAT! I have laughed at many, cried through a few, thought deeply about one, and enjoyed them all. This is the best idea I have come across in such a long time. Thanks Sian for hosting this.

I too echo that I would have loved to know what you would have said....what you would have said at that time and at that age might have been somewhat different to the feelings though :)

I don't have anyone to share Valentines with, i'm not bitter or sad about it, although mildly irritated by cheap tat for sale everywhere:) I truly admire a love story and I know they don't come easy or effortless and that they are something to treasure.